With the advent of digital SLR technology comes a huge interest in photography around the world. If you’re one of those who always loved being outdoors and watching animals in their natural habitat, you’ll surely be interested to try wildlife photography that will let you capture wildlife’s finest an immortalize those memories forever.
Video Credit: Paul Miguel Photography
Here are five tips to help you get started:
Invest in the right gear
It goes without saying that you need a good camera for capturing wildlife. In this case, a good DSLR or mirrorless camera that allows you to shoot in raw would be a great investment.
You should also consider the weight of the camera since you’ll be shooting in the outdoors, which could involve a lot of walking, and the quality of the lens to make sure it can withstand different weather conditions.
Aside from a camera, you also need to invest in the right accessories. This includes a sturdy backpack that allows you to carry all your gear conveniently. You will also need a remote shutter release for those times when you have to shoot without touching the camera, especially for long exposures.
Learn about your subject
Before you get out there, it’s important to know how your subject behaves first. While not every specie is predictable, having an idea about how they behave can help you capture their best moments and keep yourself safe while shooting. You might need to spend a few hours waiting for the right moment, so you have to make it worthwhile by knowing the moves that lead to it.
Make use of the golden light
Any expert photographer will tell you to maximize the golden light, which usually happens early in the morning upon sunrise and in the late afternoon during the last hours of sunlight before dark.
These times are when you can really play with good lighting and explore different angles while shooting.
Invest in a good hide
One of the best ways to capture wildlife without disturbing them is with the use of a canvas dome hide that lets you set up near the animals without making yourself visible to them to cause any distractions.
Invisibility is a great tool for taking good photographs because animals will behave as they would without any humans around and you can really see them in their most natural form.
Video Credit: Winged, Wet, and Wild
Aim to shoot wider
A lot of photographers focus on getting as close as possible to the animal and isolate them from the rest of the environment. But if you really want to get natural wildlife photographs, it’s better to shoot at a wider angle so you can show a better perspective of where you took the image and what your subject is doing in its environment.
Now that you have these tips in mind, you can already begin your journey to being a wildlife photographer. Whether you want to do it as a hobby or profession, nothing beats going into the wild as prepared as possible.
